Cigar wrapping mechanism



July 21, 1942.

J. P. DURNING CIGAR WRAPPING MECHANISM 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27, 1936 m 9 2m 5 g Q.

g 5N R O w A INVENTOR M MN . July 21, 1942. J. P. DURNING CIGAR WRAPPING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 27, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR W fig BY ATTORNEY July 21, 1942. J. P. DURNING CIGAR WRAPPING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'IIIJ 'IIIIII. VIII INVENTOR BY g ATTORNEY thereon will be kept to a minimum.

Patented July 21, 1942 CIGAR WRAPPING MECHANISM Application October 27, 1936, Serial No. 107,792

24 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines, and more particularly to improvements in cigar wrapping mechanism therefor.

In the wrapping mechanisms of existing machines no means have been provided for preventing paste, dust, sand, and scraps of tobacco from accumulating and clogging the operative parts thereof. Consequently, there has always been the danger that these waste materials would impair the efiiciency and effectiveness of the driving mechanism, out down the quantity of cigars produced, and affect the quality of the cigars made on the machine.

It has also been impossible to adequately lubricate the several parts of the wrapping mechanism due to the fact that the presence of even a small quantity of lubricant on any part of the mechanism which contacts a bunch, wrapper or cigar would have a very deleterious effect there? upon, and in all probability render the resulting cigar or cigars unsalable. Therefore, there has been more than the desired amount of wear on the several parts of the wrapping structure resulting in frequent replacements, and repairs. Furthermore, if oil were placed on exposed parts of the mechanism dust and other undesirable materials would accumulate thereon, and gum up or stop the rotation of various parts, such for in stance as cam followers, and other operating members.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages, and provide a wrapping structure capable of producing more perfect cigars.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cigar wrapping mechanism in which the driving parts thereof are protected from all dust, dirt and other foreign material, and in which free and ample lubrication can be easily effected at any time.

It is a further object to so enclose the driving parts of the mechanism that accumulations of dust, scraps of tobacco, and other unwanted materials are effectively excluded therefrom.

It has been found that the flag cutter mechanisms now used are often subject to excessive wear, and accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to furnish a new and improved cutter mechanism in which the wear and tear The invention also consists of a modified cutter mecha nism having-a separate motor drive.

In most wrapping structures the tuck needle hasbeen a separate unit and has not been closely associated with the supporting members of the 55 Wrapping structure. In this invention this member has been formed integral with the wrapping structure and forms an integral part thereof. It is therefore, a further object of the invention to provide an improved tuck needle structure in which its operative parts are integral with the wrapping mechanism and which is, therefore, simpler and more efficient.

Often during the operation of a machine, portions of the paste applied to the wrapper have spattered and dripped off of the wrapper as it is being wrapped around a bunch with the result that parts of the machine become covered with a coating of paste which has a detrimental effect thereon. It is, therefore, an added object of this invention to furnish means for preventing such deposits of paste forming on the cutter mechanism or adjacent parts.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a paste drip guide which will effectively divert paste not otherwise taken care of from the flag cutter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for allowing facile and ready adjustment of the several parts of the mechanism.

It is a further object to provide a new and improved bunch positioning mechanism wherein the positioning member may be more easily adjusted and brought into proper position for locating bunches in the wrapping rollers.

An added object is to provide means for mov ing the wrapping rollers to and from operative position and for eliminating the wear on the roller shafts now existing in present machines. This result is accomplished by an entire rearrangement of the separating mechanism in which it is actuated through the roller bracket supports and not through the roller shafts.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned, in View, the invention consists of the combinations and constructions which will be fully described hereinafter, and then specifically set forth in the appended claims.

.In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like reference characters indicate the same or like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cigar wrapping mechanism embodying the above mentioned improvements in accordance with my invention;

Figure 1a is a partial view taken on line la-la showing connections for operating the lower brackets of the wrapper rollers;

Figure lb shows a right handed bunch positioner operator arm;

Figure 2 is a top view of the same;

Figure 2a is a partial planview of the mechanism shown in Figure 1a;

Figure 3 is an end view showing the mechanism for opening and closing the rolling unit, the cam actuated tuck needle and the tensioning device;

Figure 4 is an end view showing the cigar head rolling mechanism and the flag cutter drive;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top view of the cigar head rolling mechanism and the flag cutter pulleys;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top view of a modified and independent drive for the flag cutter;

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on line 7-1 of Fig. 1, showing the bunch positioner;

Figure 7a is a detail view of the tuck rollers and their supporting bracket;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing the roller supports at the cigar head end of the rolling unit;

Figure 8a is a perspective detail view of a spring adjusting means;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 1, showing the tensioning device in tensioned position; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same when not under tension.

My invention relates to cigar wrapping mechanism of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,915,277 to J. F. Halstead.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the various parts of the wrapper applying device which are most apt to be affected by particles of tobacco dust, dirt, grit or sand are enclosed and effectively protected by a housing H, with easy access for adjustments being provided by openings [2, one on each side of the device, easily removable covers of which are not shown. On one side, at l3 (Figs. 2 and 4) a hinged cover I4 is provided for making additional adjustments which, together with its hinge, may be removed if so desired. The various parts of the wrapper applying device are carried on a frame l5 which is mounted on the table (not shown) of the cigar machine. A cam shaft IS, in the housing I l of the frame I5 is rotated by a spur gear I1, driven by gearing (not shown) from the cigar machine. A spur gear l8, mounted on the shaft l6, meshes with pinions l9 and carried by a bracket 2 I, clamped to a bushing 22 of the shaft [6 by a bolt 23. In Fig. 3 the position of the bracket 2| permits the pinion 19 to mesh with a gear 24 mounted on a stud 25 and through a gear 26, mounted on the same stud, to drive the rollers. A bolt 27 locks the bushing 22 and the bracket 2i in adjusted position and a rod 28 pivotally mounted on the bracket 2| at 29, is adjustably secured to the housing II and is provided with an adjustable stop nut 28a. When the bolt 21 has been loosened the rod 28 may be raised to the dotted position (Fig. 3) to elevate a pinion 32:, mounted side by side or made in one with the pinion 20 but having one tooth less than the pinions l9 and 20. With the pinion 30 in mesh with gear 24 to drive the gear 26 a correspondingly lower speed will result, which will be sufficient to regulate the rolling speed of the cigar to suit the stretch required on difierent grades and conditions of wrappers. As disclosed in Patent No. 1,315,277 to J. F. Halstead, the gear I8 is provided with degree graduations (not shown) and a pointer 3| is secured to the frame IE to facilitate the exact timing of the cams mounted on the shaft IS.

A slotted member 32 is fixed to shaft 34 for turning a gear 33, mounted on shaft 3 to d ive the gear 26 for the purpose of rotating the cam shaft l6 when assembling or adjusting the device.

The rolling unit (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8) is similar to that disclosed in the Patent No. 1,915,277 and consists of top rollers 35 and 36 and side rollers 31 and 33. The top rollers are carried by brackets 39 at the drive end and by brackets 40 at the other end, which brackets are held together by tie rods 4| and pivoted on the ends of the respective side rollers 31 and 38. The latter, in turn, are carried by brackets 42 at the drive end and by brackets 43 at the opposite end, joined by tie rods 44 and pivoted on a stationary supporting shaft 45. It has been found that there was an excessive wear on the roller shafts, and a bending and twisting of the heads of cigars in the rollers because of the location of springs at one end of the several shafts, as indicated in the above noted patent. In this invention this disadvantageous feature has been eliminated. Brackets 39 and 42 no longer have downwardly projecting lugs, and pins for springs are no longer necessary. Accordingly, springs 46 are provided between the tie rods 4| and 44 (Fig. 8) and suitably adjustably secured at points substantially opposite the center of the cigar length indicated in dotted lines or other suitable points intermediate the ends of the rollers and their supporting shafts (Fig. 1) for even pressure and for movement along said rods to preserve this central relationship for cigars of various lengths and thereby prevent the wear on the roller shafts and the bending and twisting of cigar heads as noted above. The springs 46 are provided in order to make it relatively impossible to produce discolored cigars since in the manufacturing of cigars when a wrapper is being rolled about a bunch there may be present some lumps in the bunch which, if the wrapping rollers were unyieldingly positioned might cause spots on the finished cigar. By providing springs such as 46, located between the ends of the rollers and adjacent thereto, which allow the rollers to be held with a yielding pressure against the cigar in process of manufacture, too much pressure cannot be exerted, there can be no positive hold of the rollers against the bunch and wrapper assembly and the possibility of producing spotted cigars is substantially eliminated. If it be desired to vary the tension of the springs, adjustment may be made by bending by hand or by means of some mechanical adjusting mechanism such as shown in Fig. 8a in which one end of spring 46 is attached to lug 4422 on a collar 44a. By adjusting the position of collar 44a by set screw 440 the tension of the springs can be controlled. The gearing which drives the rollers from the gear 26 is similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,915,277 and need not be described. As previously disclosed, brackets 39, 40, 42 and 43 are designed so that the top rollers bear against the cigar at the same angles with respect to the surface of the cigar as the bottom rollers, so that the pressure exerted by one pair equalizes that of the other pair, and there is no tendency for the cigar to move out of position during the wrapping process.

The mechanism for opening and closing the rollers to admit the cigar to be wrapped and to permit it to be taken away after wrapping has been improved. In the prior device the adjusting mechanism was rather inaccessible and its arrangement caused much wear upon the ends of the rods to which the links were secured. According to my improved structure all parts of this mechanism are located outside the housing where adjustment can be easily and quickly made. I provide extensions on brackets 42 which carry short shafts 35b upon which are fixed brackets 35a connected to adjustable links 390 and 39d similar to those described in the mentioned patents. Adjusting screws S are mounted in each of the roller supporting brackets'ta limit the inward movement of the wrapping rollers when a bunch is being wrapped. This structure is of a type similar to that shown in the Halstead Patent No. 1,915,277, except that the arms which operate the roller brackets are positioned closely adjacent the adjusting screws S and without the frame I5, as mentioned above. This insures that all the rollers and their shafts will remain in alignment during the wrapping operations. This arrangement maintains the rollers and their shafts in alignment at all times and prevents any twisting which might cause an undue wear in their bearings and rod ends.

Referring to Figures 1, la, 2, 2a. and 3, it will be seen that a lever 51a mounted on shaft 67 carries a pin 3% supporting brackets 61b and 670. Bracket 67b is connected by adjustable link 391 to roller bracket 39a and bracket 670 is connected by adjustable link 39a to roller bracket 35a. By means of a suitable cam 61d tracked by a cam follower file carried by lever 51 lever 61a is operated to move brackets 42 and 53 at the proper time to and from each other.

The cam operated tuck needle T which holds the entering end of the wrapper against the tuck end of the cigar bunch is located on the frame I 5 by a supporting bracket 41 and arm 48, and contributes to the compactness of the wrapping mechanism as an operating unit. The arm 48, secured to a rock shaft 49 is normally urged to swing counter-clockwise (viewed from Fig. l) by a spring 55, suitably anchored to a collar 5| fixed on the shaft 59. A crank arm 52 is also mounted on the shaft 49 and carries a roller 53 which is operated by an enclosed cam 54 within the housing I I to swing the arm 48 clockwise to its operative position. After the bunch to be wrapped is in position, and at the proper time, the tuck needle is moved in adjacent the tuck end of the bunch, and comes down upon the end of the incoming wrapper which is guided at the proper angle upon the cigar bunch by the tension plate BI, referred to hereinafter and holds it against the tuck end of the cigar so that the wrapper winds spirally around the rotating bunch from tuck to flag end. A curved sheet metal guard I 59 secured to top of frame l5 by screws I55a encloses brackets 39 and 62 and the driving gears of the wrapping rollers.

The stationary header block B is similar to that described in the Halstead patent, and it is not believed necessary to describe it further.

The bunch positioner, supported by the header block (Figs. 1 and 7) has been improved and consists of a bent arm 55 mounted on one end of a shaft 55 which on its other end carries a crank 51 with a pin 58 attached thereto and slidably adjustable on rod t5 for different lengths of cigars along a groove 59 in an arm 50, formed integral with a rod 6|. The particular tuck support illustrated consists of rollers 51b of the same type as shown in Halstead Patent No. 1,915,277, granted June 27, 1933 (see Figure 7a). These rollers are mounted in a block 51a attached to the bracket which supports the positioning arm 55, and consequently when the arm is adjusted to and from the head block the rollers are also adjusted. The rod GI is designed to be operated vertically in its bearing 62 on the housing II through a link 63, pivotally connected to the rod 6| at 64 and to a cam arm 65 at 66.

The cam arm'55'secured to a shaft 61 is provided with a cam roller 68, pivoted thereto at 69 and held in engagement with a cam I0 on the shaft I6'by a spring II attached to a pin 12 in the cam arm 55 and anchored to a pin I3 on the housing H. A lug M on the cam arm 65 engages an adjustable stop I5 on the housing I I. The grooved arm 59 of the rod 5! may be made for left or right hand use (Fig. 1) for longer or shorter lengths of cigars. In Figure 1, arm 65 is shown extending to'the left of its support rod GI. Figure lb shows an operating member of the same general construction in which arm 55', provided with groove 59, extends to the right of its support rod 6 I for the purpose described above.

An improved tensioning device which guides the wrapper to the cigar bunch and keeps it under tension has been provided and includes a bracket 15 (Figs. 9 and 10) pivoted on a shaft 'i'iymounted on the housing I I at 18. A shaft I9, at the end of the bracket 15 permits a frame member $55, pivotally mounted thereon to rock a tension plate 8i, suitably secured thereto, upward, under the tension of a coil spring 82 (Fig. 2), adjustably anchored in a housing of one of two arms 83 of the frame member 85 when a roller 84, adjustably pivoted on an eccentric stud 85 in the arm 85 is disengaged from a cam arm 87. Stud 85 is rotatable in arm 85, and is held in adjusted position by means of a screw 85a which is threaded into arm 85 to secure stud 85 in any desired angular position. Spring 82 is secured at one end to arm 83, and at the other to threaded adjusting screw 19a turnable on a threaded portion of shaft I9 to vary the tension exerted by plate BI. By means of adjustable roller the position of plate 8| can always be controlled and the most favorable results obtained. The arm I33 of the frame member 80 carries a stop screw 88 on its lug 89 to bear against an offset portion of the bracket I6 and limit the upward movement of the tension plate 8i. A stop screw 9| is provided on the offset portion 95 of the bracket 76 for limiting the motion of the latter in the direction of the rolling unit. Anarm 92 secured to the shaft 11 has a lug 93 which engages a screw 54 on the bracket I5 when it is operated by a crank arm 95 on the shaft 11 through a link 95', pivoted thereon at 91, and to the arm ii'ii'at 99 which is mounted on a shaft 57, supported on the frame I5. The arm 98 is operated by a cam arm I59 on the shaft 51 when its roller Iill pivoted at I52 engages a cam I53 mounted on the shaft I5. A spring I55 attached to a pin I55 on the cam arm I98 and to the frame I5, at I55, holds the roller IIJI in engagement with the cam I53. A spring I91 secured to a pin I98 on the arm 92 and attached to the bracket it retains the tension plate SI in its effective position when under tension. A cam arm 8? pivotally supported at I89 on the housing II and joined by a pin and slot connection H5 to a link III secured to the arm 92 at Hz has a cam surface H3 which engages the roller 84 in the motion thus transmitted from the arm 52. An adjusting screw IE5 is provided on a lug IE5 of the cam arm 8'? for engagement with the link III.

Tension plate 8! which operates in a manner similar to that shown in the Halstead Patent No. 1,582,597, granted April 27, 1926, moves into operative position above wrapping roller 35, as shown in Fig. 2, after a bunch has been placed and properly positioned between rollers 35 and 36 for wrapping. Spring 82 swings plate 8| upward against the wrapper so that as it is being wound about the bunch revolving in rollers 35, 35 the required amount of tension is applied thereto to insure that the wrapper is properly applied to the bunch. Just prior to the end of the wrapping operations, when the flag end of the wrapper has been released from the wrapper carrier (not shown), cam surface H3 is moved into engagement with roller 84 and the plate BI is swung down against the tension of spring 82 to the dotdash position shown in Fig. 9. The plate 8I is later moved in a substantially horizontal plane away from the rollers 35, 36 in order that they may be opened, and the wrapped cigar removed.

The flag cutter (Figs. 4 and 5) includes a stationary blade I I 6 secured to a bracket I I I, ad- J'ustable on a shaft H8 together with a rotatable blade I I 9 fixed on the shaft II8 which is supported by a bracket arm I20 pivoted at I2! to the frame I5. Arm I20 is preferably loosely mounted on shaft I2I and in the embodiment shown moves up and down in accord with the movement of bracket I25, mentioned hereinafter. A driven member I22, mounted on the shaft H8, is designed to be raised and rotated by a driving member I23, secured to a shaft I24 on the bracket I25 which is fixed to a shaft I26 secured to the frame I5 at its bearing I21. The driving member I23, mounted with greater leverage than pulley I22 and continuously driven by means of a suitable coupling C, which in the illustrated embodiment may take the form of a flexible leather connection from another unit of the cigar machine (not shown), is raised when a springheld finger I28, pivoted on one of two arms I29a of the lever I29, at I38, which is mounted on the shaft I26, engages a nose I 3| of an adjustable cam I32 on the cam shaft I6. When the larger pulley I23 is raised it engages and lifts the driven member I22 to rotate it and the flag cutter blade II S, the result being more easily obtained due to the improved relation of pulleys and leverages described. When bracket I25 is lowered at the close of the flag cutting operation, arm I26 also moves downwardly until an adjustable set screw I20a carried thereon engages a pin I5a fixed in frame I5, and thereby disconnects the drive between members I22 and I23. By means of this arrangement excessiv wear of the shaft of the driven member is eliminated since this member is merely raised against gravity into operative position. A lock screw I33 on the lever I34, mounted to one side of the bracket I25, engages a forked end of the lever I34 providing for adjustment of the driving member I23. A screw I31, on the bracket I25, limits the movement of the member I23 at the housing II. On the other arm I291) of the lever I29, a cam roller I38 is pivoted at I39 for coaotion with the cam I40 to retract an adjustable header cone I 4I carried by an arm I42 (Figs. 4 and 5). The header cone I4I, carried by an arm I42, is clamped to a stud I43 held by arm I44 resiliently pivoted by a coil spring I45 on the pin I46 supported in the frame I5 at I41. An arm I48 fixed to the pin I46 and extending inwardly has a tip I49 which extends downwardly to rest on the cam surface I 50 of the arm I29a of the lever I29 and transmit the cam motion to the header cone I4I to and from the cigar. The coil spring I45 suitably anchored at I5I to a collar I52 fixed to the pin I46 and to a pin I53 on the frame I5 at I41 is enclosed in the housing I I which eliminates the need for a separate housing. The improvements apparent in this construction contribute to increased efiiciency of operation and the ease with which adjustment may be made.

As a modified form of drive for the flag cutter a separate motor is shown (Fig. 6) connected to the shaft I24 so that the flag cutter may be driven independently of any unit which it will be readily understood is of particular advantage when operating the wrapping mechanism for testing the adjustment as well as when in operation with the cigar machine. A small motor I54 is mounted on the housing II by suitable means such as a bracket I55 secured to the shaft I25 so as to be rocked with the bracket I25 which carries the pulley I23.

The excess paste which, in the operation of the flag cutter, drops and accumulates on the surrounding mechanism to the detriment of the affected parts and their operation is now caught and diverted by a ledge I56 formed on the frame I5 as indicated in dot and dash lines (Figs. 1 and 4) to a removable receptacle I51, suitably attached to the casing II at I58.

The described protection from the paste drip in addition to that provided to protect the mechanism from tobacco dust, dirt, grit or sand by the housing II combines with the improved features described to make for a much greater degree of efiicient operation than could otherwise be possible.

It is thought from the foregoing, the arrangement and operation of the illustrated construction will be clearly understood but I reserve the right to effect such structural modifications and variations as may come fairly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a plurality of wrapping rollers, of movable brackets supporting said rollers adjacent each end for movement into and out of operative position for rolling a wrapper about a bunch positioned within said rollers, stationary members supporting said brackets, driving means for rotating said rollers, and means positioned without said members and connected with said brackets for effecting said inward and outward motion.

2. In a cigar wrapping mechanism having a plurality of wrapping members including wrapping rollers, and tuck rollers, a flag cutter, means for operating said cutter, said means comprising a movable arm, a fixed, and a rotatable knife carried on said arm, a driven member for rotating said knife on said arm, a continuously rotating driving member, a movable bracket located beneath said arm mounting said driving member, means for moving said driving member into contact with said driven member to rotate said driven member continuously while in engagement with said driving member to rotate said knife through a plurality of complete revolutions and cut the flag of a wrapper being wrapped about a bunch in said rollers.

3. In a cigar wrapping mechanism having a plurality of wrapping members including wrapping rollers, and tuck rollers, a flag cutter, means for operating said cutter, said means comprising a movable arm, a fixed, and a rotatable knife carried on said arm, a driven member carried by said arm for rotating said knife, a continuously driven driving member, a movable bracket mounting said driving member, means for moving said driving member into contact with said driven member to set said rotatable knife into continuous rotation through a plurality of revolutions while said driven member is in engagement with said driving member and lift said rotating knife into cutting position to cut the flag of a Wrapper being wrapped about a bunch between said rollers, and means for checking the downward movement of said arm whereby to discontinue the rotation of said knife.

4. In a cigar machine having wrapping rollers for rolling a bunch and a wrapper into cigar form, a flag cutter for cutting the flag of said wrapper, said cutter comprising a plurality of relatively movable knives, a movable arm carrying said knives, a bracket, normally disengaged driving means carried by said bracket for rotating one of said knives, and means for lifting said driving means into engaged driving position to rotate said knife continuously through a plurality of evolutions while said driving means is in lifted position, and for lifting said knives into flag cutting position.

5. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling device, a dag cutter, comprising a plurality of knives, a movable bracket carrying said knives, and means for operating said knives including a pivoted arm, a motor on said arm, a driving member on the motor shaft, a driven member mounted to cooperate with said knives and means for bringing said members together into operative relationship.

6. In a cigar machine having a plurality of wrapping rollers for rolling a bunch and wrapper into a cigar, a flag cutter for cutting the end of said Wrapper, comprising a plurality of relatively movable knives, and means for operating said knives including a driven and a driving member, an arm having mounted thereon a motor for driving said driving member, and means for moving said arm into a position where said members are in operative relation to operate said knives.

7. In a cigar wrapping mechanism having a plurality of wrapping rollers, a header, a plurality of tuck rollers, and a support for said tuck rollers adjustably mounted with respect to said header, a bunch positioning member mounted on said support, said member comprising a pivoted element for displacing a bunch axially in said wrapping rollers, a crank associated with said element for moving it to and from operative position, and a channelled reciprocatory member cooperating with said crank for effecting said movement.

8. In a cigar wrapping mechanism having a plurality of wrapping rollers, and a header, a positioning member for positioning a bunch to be wrapped against said header, said member comprising a pivoted finger, a crank associated with said finger for moving it into and out of operative position, and a channelled recipro 'atory member cooperating with said crank for effecting said movement.

9. A cigar wrapping machine comprising, a plurality of wrapping rollers, a header, and a positioning member for locating bunches on said rollers against said header, a shaft, and operating means on said shaft for said rollers and member, a housing substantially completely enclosing said shaft and means, a bearing on said housing, an element reciprocable in said bearing, a channelled device carried on said element and associated with said member for moving said member to and from operative position.

10. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination. with a stationary shaft, of opposed brackets pivoted on said shaft, a side roller and a top roller carried by each of said brackets, and means located intermediate the ends of the surfaces of the rollers that contact the cigars and adjacent said top and side rollers for yieldingly maintaining them in wrapping position.

11. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a stationary shaft, of opposed brackets pivoted on said shaft, a side roller and a top roller carried by each of said brackets, and means located intermediate the ends of said rollers and adjacent said top and side rollers for yieldingly positioning them in wrapping position, said means comprising a spring, and adjustable means to vary the tension imposed upon said rollers.

12. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a shaft, of opposed brackets pivoted upon said shaft, a side and a top roller carried by each of said brackets, tie rods mounted in said brackets and extending parallel to said rollers, and springs secured to each of said rods and centrally of the bunch wrapping position on said rollers for holding said rollers in wrapping position.

13. In a cigar wrapping mechanism having a plurality of wrapping rollers, and a header, 2. support for one end of a cigar adjustably mounted with respect to said header, a bunch positioning member mounted on said support, said member comprising a pivoted element for displacing a bunch axially in said wrapping rollers, a crank associated with said element for movingit to and from operative position, and a channelled reciprocatory member cooperating with said crank for effecting said movement.

14. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling device, a flag cutter, said cutter comprising a set of relatively rotatable knives, an arm mounting said knives for movement into flag cutting position, a driven member carried by said arm cooperating to rotate one of said knives relative to the other, driving means and mechanism for moving said means into engagement with said member to rotate said knife continuously through a plurality of revolutions while said member and means are engaged and lift said knives into cutting position. v

15. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a shaft, of opposed brackets movably mounted on said shaft, top and side wrapping rollers carried by each of said brackets for maintaining a bunch in Wrapping position therebetween, means for rotating said rollers to apply a wrapper to said bunch, and means located intermediate the ends of the surfaces of the rollers that contact the cigar and adjacent said top and side rollers for yieldingly maintaining said rollers in wrapping position.

16. In a cigar machine, the combination with opposed brackets, of means for mounting them for movement towards and from each other, spaced wrapping rollers carried by said brackets, and means located adjacent said rollers and intermediate the ends of the surfaces of the rollers that contact the cigar for maintaining said rollers in yielding wrapping position.

17. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the cornbination with opposed brackets, of means for maintaining them for movement to and from each other, spaced wrapping rollers carried by said brackets, tie rods mounted in each of said brackets and extending substantially parallel to said rollers and means secured to said rods intermediate the ends thereof for maintaining said rollers in yielding wrapping position.

18. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a plurality of horizontal bunch wrapping rollers, of movable frames for supporting said rollers for movement to and from each other, means for driving said rollers, support members for said frames, and a housing extending directly beneath the entire cigar engaging extent of said rollers and mounted on said members and substantially enclosing said driving means for shielding said means from said rollers, and so constructed and arranged that waste materials are prevented from falling onto said means, and oscillating links for moving said movable frames mounted in entirety exteriorly and laterally of the housing and at one end thereof.

19. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a plurality of bunch wrapping elements including horizontal wrapping rollers,

of movable frames for supporting the ends of said rollers for movement to and from each other to hold cigar bunches in wrapping position therein, means for operating said elements comprising a drive shaft and associated operating members, support members for said frames, and a housing formed on said members extending substantially horizontally directly beneath the entire cigar engaging extent of said rollers and substantially enclosing said shaft and associated operating members, and so constructed and arranged that waste materials are prevented from dropping from said rollers and elements onto said shaft and operating members, and oscillating links for moving said movable frames into and out of operative position mounted in entirety exteriorly and laterally of the housing and at one end thereof.

20. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, a plurality of wrapping elements comprising a plurality of wrapping rollers, tuck rollers, a bunch positioning member, a flag cutter and a tension plate, and means for operating said elements in timed relation comprising a main shaft, a countershaft, and cooperating mechanism on said shafts, said main and countershafts and cooperating mechanism being directly below said elements, and having a housing so constructed and arranged as to completely protect that portion of said main shaft, countershaft and cooperating mechanism within said housing and prevent scrap tobacco and other materials from falling on said shafts and cooperating mechanism, and restrain oil on said shafts and cooperating mechanism from reaching said elements, a tuck needle, an oscillating shaft extending through said housing, an arm on said shaft for actuating said tuck needle, and oscillating links for moving said rollers to and from wrapping position mounted in entirety exteriorly and laterally of the housing and at one end thereof.

21. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, a plurality of wrapping elements comprising a plurality of wrapping rollers, a bunch positioning member, and a tension plate, and means for operating said elements in timed relation comprising a main shaft, a countershaft, and cooperating mechanism on said shafts, said main and countershafts and cooperating mechanism being directly below said elements, and having a housing so constructed and arranged as to completely protect that portion of said main shaft, countershaft and cooperating mechanism within said housing and prevent scrap tobacco and other materials from falling on said shafts and cooperating mechanism, and restrain oil on said shafts and cooperating mechanism from reaching said elements, and oscillating links for moving said rollers to and from wrapping position mounted in entirety exteriorly and laterally of the housing and at one end thereof.

22. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, the combination with a frame, and a plurality of wrapping devices including a plurality of wrapping rollers, and tuck rollers, of a main shaft mounted in said frame, operating means for said devices fixed on said frame, a housing forming a part of said frame extending substantially horizontally directly beneath the entire cigar engaging extent of said rollers and interposed between said devices and said means, a tuck needle cooperating with said devices, a cam mounted on said main shaft for moving said needle to and from tucking position, an oscillating shaft extending through said housing, an arm on said oscillating shaft operated by said cam for actuating said tuck needle, and oscillating links for moving said rollers to and from wrapping position mounted in entirety exteriorly and laterally of the housing and at one end thereof.

23. In a cigar wrapping mechanism, a frame, a plurality of wrapping devices mounted in said frame including, a header, and wrapping rollers, a drive shaft provided with members located directly beneath said devices for operating said devices, a housing extending horizontally beneath said devices enclosing said drive shaft and members, and constructed and arranged to prevent foreign substances from dropping onto said enclosed shaft and members, a flag cutter having a portion exposed to view from outside of the housing mounted adjacent said header, said housing having a portion thereof extending above and at one side of said flag cutter when the latter is in inoperative position, and said housing being constructed and arranged to permit movement of the cutter outwardly of said housing for a cutting operation while confining the operative parts of said cutter.

24. In a cigar machine, the combination with a frame, a plurality of wrapping rollers, and means for mounting said rollers for movement towards and away from each other to hold a cigar bunch in wrapping position, of a shaft mounted in said frame, operating mechanism for said rollers mounted on said shaft, a tuck needle carried by said frame and mounted to extend above said rollers and movable into and out of coaction therewith, a housing formed on said frame extending horizontally beneath said rollers, said housing being so constructed and arranged as to protect said shaft and operating mechanism within said housing and prevent scrap tobacco and other materials from falling on said shaft and operating mechanism, means for moving said tuck needle into and out of coaction with said rollers, including an oscillating shaft extending through said housing, an arm on said shaft, and driving means for moving said arm, and oscillating links for moving said rollers to and from wrapping position in timed relation to said tuck needle movements, said links being mounted in entirety exteriorly and laterally of the housing and at one end thereof.

JAMES P. DURNING. 

